Historique

This Terms of Reference (ToR) refers to the regional component of the GEF-funded project entitled “Reducing UPOPs and Mercury Releases from the Health Sector in Africa”. The overall objective of this full size project, implemented by UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) in partnership with WHO and the NGO Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), is to implement best environmental practices and introduce non-incineration healthcare waste treatment technologies and mercury-free medical devices in four Sub-Saharan African countries (Ghana, Madagascar, Tanzania and Zambia) to reduce harmful releases from the health sector.

The project promotes best practices and techniques for healthcare waste management (HCWM) with the aim of minimizing or eliminating releases of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) to help countries meet their obligations under the Stockholm Convention on POPs. The project also supports these countries in phasing down the use of Mercury-containing medical devices and products, while improving practices for Mercury-containing wastes with the objective to reduce releases of Mercury in support of countries’ future obligations under the Minamata Convention. Finally, because the project improves healthcare waste management systems (e.g. through improved classification, segregation, storage, transport and disposal) the project also contributes to the reduction of the spread of infections both at healthcare facility level as well as in places where healthcare waste is being handled.

The project document has been designed to address the following components (regional and national):

• Activity 1. Disseminate technical guidelines, establish mid-term evaluation criteria and technology allocation formula, and build teams of national experts on BAT/BEP at the regional level (Regional component - implemented by UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub and national component);
• Activity 2. Health Care Waste National plans, implementation strategies, and national policies in each recipient country (National component);
• Activity 3a. Make available in the region affordable non-incineration HCWM systems and mercury-free devices that conform to BAT and international standards (Regional component);
• Activity 3b. Demonstrate HCWM systems, recycling, mercury waste management and mercury reduction at the model facilities, and establish national training infrastructures (National component);
• Activity 4a. Evaluate the capacities of each recipient country to absorb additional non-incineration HCWM systems and mercury-free devices and distribute technologies based on the evaluation results and allocation formula (Regional component);
• Activity 4b. Expand HCWM systems and the phase-out of mercury in the recipient countries and disseminate results in the Africa region (National component and regional component).

The Chief Technical Expert (CTE) will provide technical support for the regional project’s third component (Activity 3) in close coordination within the Regional Expert Team (RET) composed, apart from the CTE, of the Regional Project Coordinator and the Regional Administrative Assistant; senior experts from WHO, HCWH, and UNDP HIV, Health and Development (HHD) team.

Devoirs et responsabilités

With the technical guidance of UNDP MPU/Chemicals and under the operational responsibility of UNDP’s Istanbul Regional Hub, the Chief Technical Expert will provide support to coordinate project’s technical outputs and will, in particular:

• Work with the Regional Expert Team to support the implementation of the work plan of the four year-long project under the general supervision of the UNDP MPU/Chemicals and in close consultation and coordination with UNDP Country offices, Senior Country Lead Officials, UNDP-GEF Partners (WHO, Health Care Without Harm, and others) and relevant donors;
• Work closely with the Regional Technical Coordinator to support the coordination and monitoring work plan activities;
• As the key technology expert, provide substantial technical advice and support to country offices on technologies and other related Project activities;
• Be the lead technical support for the procurement of non-incineration HCW treatment technology, non-mercury containing devices and other HCW management related equipment;
• Provide technical support to disseminate technical guidelines as required; provide technical support for the implementation of pilot projects as necessary
• Help develop Terms of References (ToRs) for and in the oversight of the work of consultants and contractors, as requested by IRH;
• Help develop technical specifications/requirements/ToRs for the procurement of technical equipment;
• Liaise with designated officials of the Participating Countries, Implementing Agency, Executing Agency, UNDP Country Offices, existing and potential additional project donors, Senior Country Lead Officials, project partners and others as required;
• Support ensuring consistency between the various program elements and related activities provided or funded by other donor organizations;
• Foster and/or establish links with other related GEF programs and, where appropriate, with other relevant regional programs;
• Support cooperation with the partner organizations of the project; 
• Support the preparation of substantive and technical reports, including annual PIRs and commissioning reports for the first set of procurement of equipment under the project;
• Support with technical inputs, if requested, during the mid-term evaluation in 2018;
• Outreach the results of this project and be available for possible solicitations from media on technical questions related to the project.

Duration:
The Contract will enter into effect upon signature by both parties, expected for 18 (eighteen) months of duration. The project CTE is expected to start in March 2017.

Duty Station:
Home-based, with missions to Ghana, Madagascar, Tanzania, Zambia and Turkey.

Travel requirements:

• One mission to capital cities of each project countries - Accra, Lusaka, Dar es Salaam and Antananarivo as primary locations with additional visits to projects sites as deemed necessary in each country (5 working days for each country) to provide support in the implementation of the healthcare waste management plan and mercury phase-out strategy, to support the implementation of the work plan and to ensure the site readiness for the implementation of the treatment technology;
• One mission to capital cities of each project countries - Accra, Lusaka, Dar es Salaam and Antananarivo as primary locations with additional visits to projects sites for the commissioning and start-up of the non-incineration technologies (5 working days for each country);
• Two missions to project countries or Istanbul to participate in the annual regional project meetings in 2017 and 2018 (4 working days for each meeting);
• Additional travels may be requested by the IRH over the duration of the assignment within the estimated workload. Missions will be arranged by IRH and will be covered separately as per UNDP Rules and Regulations, therefore related travel costs should be excluded from the financial proposal.

Expected outputs and timeline:

The total number of days of work is estimated approximately 130 working days. The breakdown corresponds to the expected outputs as follows:

• A report on work plan of the assignment (approximately 2 working days. Duration: first month of the contract);
• First interim report after completion of the first set of missions to the project countries and regional project meeting in 2017, including reports from each mission (approximately 24 working days. Duration: 12 months after beginning of the contract);
• Second interim report after completion of the second set of missions to the project countries and regional project meeting in 2018, including reports from each mission (approximately 24 working days. Duration: 15 months after beginning of the contract);
• A final report on the progress of project Activity 3, including the report on the commissioning of procured items (approximately 5 working days. Duration: 18 months after beginning of the contract);
• Other home-based work for which progress will be reported in details (including number of days worked) within the first interim report and final report (approximately 75 working days in total, during the contract period): a) Overall technical coordination of regional expert team; b) Technical support for the procurement and commissioning of non-incineration HCW equipment; c) Continuation of strengthening the technical knowledge basis of the teams of experts; and support south-south dialogue for the development of ToRs for the consultancy posts at the national levels); d) Provision of advice on the implementation of technical outputs at the national and regional levels; e) Liaising with project teams of participating countries, partners, donors or others as required; f) Participation in regular project discussions (regular calls for updates on the project progress).

Schedule of payments:

• 20% payment upon submission of the report on work plan of the assignment;
• 30% payment upon submission of the first interim report, including the progress report on home-based work;
• 30% payment upon submission of the second interim report;
• 20% payment upon submission of the final report, including the progress report on home based work.

Compétences

Corporate competencies: 

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP; 
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; 
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism; 
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment. 

Functional competencies:

• Ability to analyze policy documents and make constructive policy suggestions;
• Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
• Capacity building skills and flexibility depending on the public;
• Demonstration of commitment to the Project’s mission, vision and values;
• Good writing and reporting skills;
• Good presentation skills;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations, and to meet tight deadlines.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

• Minimum Master’s degree (preferably a Ph.D.) in Environmental Engineering, Public Health or a directly related field is required.

Experience:

• At least 7 years’ relevant experience in health-care waste management including waste assessments; development of national policies and plans; training; segregation, minimization, storage, transport, treatment, or disposal of health-care waste, and procurement, commissioning and set-up of non-incineration technologies;
• Previous work experience in non-incineration medical waste treatment technologies is an asset;
• Previous work experience in mercury waste management and mercury-free alternatives is an asset;
• Work experience with the requirements of the Stockholm Convention on POPs, Minamata Convention on Mercury and Best Available Techniques/Best Environmental Practices guidelines is an asset;
• Previous experience in environmental health, infection control and prevention, and health delivery systems is an asset; 
• Relevant work experience in project participating countries is an asset; 
• Experience with the goals and procedures of international organizations (preferably in UN systems), in particular those of the UNDP, GEF and its partners (WHO, Health Care Without Harm, and current and future potential additional donors) and is an asset.

Language skills:

• Proficiency in written and spoken English; 
• Proficiency in written and spoken French is an asset.

Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal. The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk reviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. 

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

• Criteria A - Educational background – max points: 5;
• Criteria B - Relevant experience in health-care waste management (preferably with non-incineration treatment technologies and mercury free alternatives) – max points: 30;
• Criteria C - Work experience with Stockholm Convention (on POPs), Minamata Convention (on Mercury) and Best Available Techniques/Best Environmental Practices guidelines – max points: 10;
• Criteria D - Previous experience in environmental health, infection control and prevention, and health delivery systems – max points: 5;
• Criteria E - Relevant work experience in project participating countries – max points: 5;
• Criteria F - Experience with the goals and procedures of international organizations (preferably in UN systems), in particular those of the UNDP, GEF and its partners (WHO and Health Care Without Harm) – max points: 10;
• Criteria G - Proficiency in English and French – max points: 5.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

Application Procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application. 
• Methodology (max 2 pages) on how you will approach and conduct the work.
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/dam/rbec/docs/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc); please upload the P11 instead of your CV. 
• Financial Proposal* - Total lump sum amount in USD for tasks specified in this announcement. Mission related costs must NOT be included in the price offer as they will be covered separately as per UNDP rules and regulations. 
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

* Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination, personal security needs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...).

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner. 

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.